Habitat assessment by crstldvdsn

crstldvdsn's picture
Assessment results
Answer givenOur advice
Do you have native bunchgrasses?: 
None.
Increase the amount of bunch grass in your yard. Many bees nest and overwinter at the base of these grasses.
Are there bee nesting blocks?: 
No
Supplement your habitats with nest blocks. Learn how to build them here.
What is the main type of vegetation in the area you are evaluating (park, garden, yard, farm...)?: 
Mix of native and non-native plants
Increase the amount of native plants in your yard.
How much of the whole yard, park, farm or green space is garden space or wild/natural vegetation?: 
A lot. More than 40%.
You are doing a great job managing for pollinators!
How much of the garden is planted with flowering annual or perennial plants (including shrubs, vegetables and trees)?: 
A lot (51-75%)
Consider supplementing your garden with some native, pollinator friendly plants and converting some lawn!
How many different pollinator counts will your contribute this year?: 
Ten or more.
We'd love to see pollinator counts from any of the plants in your garden as many times as you can contribute. Thanks for contributing!

Score: 181 (out of a possible 210)

My yard has been a work in progress for the past two years. I started by adding raised beds for vegetables. Then I replaced grass with more raised beds. I filled the new beds with vegetables and the old raised beds are filled with penstemons, poppies, yarrow, larkspur, rocky mountain bee plant, yellow bee plant, mint, blanket flower, Lewis' flax, and flea bane. On the fence line I also have more rocky mountain bee plant, wild bergamot, and raspberries. This year I added blackberry, service berry, black elderberry, blueberry, golden currant, rhubarb, and Oregon grape. I removed boxwood bushes from my front yard and converted about 50% of my grass lawn with flowering shrubs and native forbs including lambs ear, catmint, blanket flower, black-eyed susans, big sagebrush, yellow rabbitbrush, mock orange, Oregon grape, Lewis' flax, golden rod, echinacea, chocolate flower, and yarrow. I am planning to add globe mallow, sky blue aster, anise hyssop, showy milkweed, nicotiana, evening primrose, fireweed, prairie smoke, and hummingbird sage in the fall.

Which garden or space are you describing?: 
Home
How large is your yard?: 
280.00
square yards
Are there areas with bare ground and very few plants?: 
Yes
Are there areas with sandy loamy soil?: 
Yes
Are there low traffic areas where the soil is not turned over, tilled or plowed?: 
Yes
Are there areas dead wood, brush piles or snags present?: 
Yes
Are there areas with pithy twigs (elderberry, cane fruit, sumac, etc…)?: 
Yes
Are the flowering plants that you have pollinator friendly?: 
Most (more than 75%)
How many flowers in your garden bloom in spring?: 
10 or more
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 
10 or more
How many flowers in your garden bloom in summer?: 
10 or more
Are flowers planted in clumps?: 
Yes.
How much mulch is on the ground?: 
Some.
Is there fresh, clean water always available with a perch that bees could stand on and drink?: 
Yes
Does the garden use herbicides?: 
No.
Are pesticides used in the garden?: 
No